Nova Brief https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/ Marketing news that matters — campaigns, stories, stats and ideas from Nova Social. en-gb Sat, 07 Nov 2026 07:23:26 GMT Raise the bar, says the Festival of Marketing. Here's where to look on Wednesday https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/festival-of-marketing-2026-preview.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/festival-of-marketing-2026-preview.html Branding Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:00:00 GMT Marketing Week's Festival of Marketing is at The Brewery on Wednesday 14 October, theme "Raise the bar". Who's on, and the session we'd queue for. Newcastle United changed its crest by refusing to redesign it https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/newcastle-united-new-crest-fan-vote-refinement.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/newcastle-united-new-crest-fan-vote-refinement.html Branding Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:42:00 GMT Newcastle United's first crest change since 1988 was shaped by fans, with 84% backing an update and Option C taking 64.8% of 27,348 votes. The brand lesson. Ofcom wants platforms to stop scam ads before they run. You have until Friday to say what you think https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/ofcom-scam-ads-fraudulent-advertising-code-consultation.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/ofcom-scam-ads-fraudulent-advertising-code-consultation.html Advertising Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:22:02 GMT Ofcom's draft code would make big platforms verify advertisers, ban scammers and test AI ad tools. Responses are due by 5pm on Friday 2 October. WPP has built a 34,000 sq ft bet that production is where the AI money goes https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/wpp-devons-point-ai-production-hub-east-london.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/wpp-devons-point-ai-production-hub-east-london.html AI Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:21:14 GMT WPP's 34,000 sq ft Devon's Point hub brings a 16m x 14m LED stage, creator studios and AI tools together, and makes a play for clients' production budgets. Amazon swaps its ad console for an AI agent, and lets brands into Alexa's answers https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/amazon-ads-agent-branded-conversations-unboxed-2026.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/amazon-ads-agent-branded-conversations-unboxed-2026.html AI Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:23:00 GMT Amazon rebuilds its ad platform around AI agents and launches Branded Conversations, letting brands shape Alexa for Shopping answers. Digital advertising is now worth £175bn to the UK. Someone tell the Treasury https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/uk-digital-advertising-175bn-economy-iab-public-first.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/uk-digital-advertising-175bn-economy-iab-public-first.html Stats Tue, 29 Sep 2026 14:16:00 GMT IAB UK research says digital ads add £175bn to the UK economy and 2.6m jobs, with £242bn possible by 2035 if policy on AI and data helps. Hovis is spending £4m reminding Britain why it knows its brand https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/hovis-4m-brand-campaign.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/hovis-4m-brand-campaign.html Campaigns Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT Hovis is putting £4m behind Strength Baked In, a VCCP campaign built on the brand's old ghost signs. A lesson in spending on what a brand already owns. Asda unveils a full brand refresh as it fights to win back shoppers https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/asda-brand-refresh-2026.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/asda-brand-refresh-2026.html Branding Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:30:16 GMT Asda has launched its biggest brand refresh in 15 years, with price pushed to the centre of the identity. Instagram tests a reverse-chronological main feed for all users https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/instagram-trial-reverse-chronological.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/instagram-trial-reverse-chronological.html Social Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT Instagram is testing an opt-in chronological main feed in the UK and US. The default ranking is unchanged. What marketers actually need to know about AI search this quarter https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/what-marketers-need-to-know-ai-search.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/what-marketers-need-to-know-ai-search.html AI Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT Where AI-generated search answers are actually changing brand traffic, and the three things worth doing about it now. Uncommon wins British Airways' global creative account https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/uncommon-wins-british-airways.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/uncommon-wins-british-airways.html Agencies Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT British Airways has appointed Uncommon as its global creative agency after a four-way pitch. Retail media's second wave is here, and it is coming for brand budgets https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/retail-media-second-wave.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/retail-media-second-wave.html Digital Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT Retail media is moving from trade spend to brand budgets. Eight leaders on what that changes, and where measurement still falls down. Why everyone chasing AI content is missing the point https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/nova-take-ai-content-missing-the-point.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/nova-take-ai-content-missing-the-point.html AI Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT AI content tools solve for volume. For most brands, volume was never the problem. Lidl kicks off the Christmas ad race early with a raccoon and a wink at John Lewis https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/lidl-christmas-2026-teaser.html https://brief.novasocial.co.uk/lidl-christmas-2026-teaser.html Campaigns Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:30:16 GMT Lidl has released a Christmas campaign teaser in early September, betting that being first beats being polished.